Japan’s foreign assets renew record highDate: May 27, 2014Source:NHK World

Japan’s net external assets hit the highest level ever in 2013. This came as a weaker yen boosted the value of stocks and bonds held abroad.
Net external assets represent the value of overseas assets owned by Japanese businesses, government and individual investors, minus foreign investments in Japan.

According to the Finance Ministry, Japan’s overseas assets topped 7.8 trillion dollars at the end of last year, up more than 1.3 trillion dollars year-on-year.
Meanwhile, assets held in Japan by foreign investors exceeded 4.6 trillion dollars, up over 1 trillion dollars.

As a result, the net external assets totaled 325 trillion yen, or about 3.2 trillion dollars.

This marks the 3rd straight year of increase, and makes Japan the world’s largest net creditor nation for the 23rd consecutive year.

The ministry officials say that besides the yen’s decline, a rise in direct investments also contributed. These involve Japanese firms buying the stocks of foreign companies through acquisitions and other deals.

One Response to “Japan’s overseas assets topped 7.8 trillion dollars at the end of 2013”

May 27 (Reuters) – Japan’s net external assets rose to a record 325 trillion yen ($3.2 trillion) as of the end of last year as a weak yen boosted the value of overseas holdings, making the country the world’s biggest creditor nation for 23 years in a row, the finance ministry said.

The value of net assets held by the Japanese government, businesses and individuals exceeded the previous year’s 296 trillion yen, which was a record under comparable data going back to 1996, ministry officials said.